Maddy dragged herself out of bed, stretching her arms above her head. She stumbled to the bathroom, her mind foggy but slowly waking up.

Does Pilates even count as strength training? she wondered, recalling her doctor's advice about incorporating more weight-bearing exercises now that she was "getting older." I mean, it's not like lifting weights or anything, but it has to help, right? All those planks and leg lifts must do something.

As she brushed her teeth, another thought crept in. And what about my Apple Fitness Yoga Day badge? Does Pilates count for that, too? It's not exactly yoga, but there's got to be some overlap with the stretching and core work. She spat out the toothpaste, shaking her head at her rationalizations. Who am I kidding? I'm just trying to hit two birds with one stone. Ugh, birds.

She glanced at the clock on the wall and nearly choked. She had precisely three minutes to leave the house to make it to class on time. Maddy, you're moving way too slow, she chastised herself, grabbing her workout clothes from the dresser. You always do this, and you know you hate walking in late. Get it together!

As she yanked on her leggings and struggled into her sports bra, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She paused, momentarily distracted. How did I get so gray? she thought, running a hand through her hair. The strands seemed to have multiplied overnight, a stark reminder of being over forty. I swear these weren't here yesterday.

Shaking off the thought, she pulled her hair into a messy bun and threw on a tank top. Grabbing her water bottle and keys, she dashed out the door.

As she flew out of her apartment, her mind still racing about gray hairs and potentially missed workouts, she collided with something solid, nearly losing her balance. Strong hands steadied her, and she looked up, her breath catching.

The classmate from the dream she had last night stood before her.

Irrationally, she remembered something he had said when they were both seventeen. You should know I got you...I'll be a fighter for you.

"Jeffrey," she whispered so softly that he did not hear. Her eyes scanned him.

Dreadlocks framed his face, blue eyes that seemed to sparkle even in the dim hallway light, and dimples that deepened when he smiled. Everything she remembered of the boy was now fully formed and —

She remembered something else. Marcia, her nerdy best friend and neighbor, had described someone like this to her last night as they had girly beverages on their side-by-side bedroom balconies.

Marcia had said with fascination and wonder, "He's got dreadlocks, blue eyes, dimples, and this presence, Maddy. He's... different. In the elevator, we — "

"Whoa, are you okay?" His voice, rich and smooth like honey, drizzled over warm toast, had interrupted her thoughts.

It reminded her of lazy afternoons in Dominica with her ex, floating in the turquoise waters, wrapped in sun-drenched hugs and tender kisses. Why am I thinking of that no-good cheating from a few mistakes ago?

Maddy blinked, chasing thoughts of that parasitic rat away.

"I, um... Pilates. I mean...I'm late for pilates," she stammered, her freckled cheeks flushing.

Jeffrey chuckled, the sound resonating through her like a familiar melody. "Don't let me keep you. But be careful, yeah? Wouldn't want you to miss your class."

He did not remember her, she realized.

She nodded, her brain struggling to form coherent thoughts. "Right. Pilates. I... have to go."

With that, she turned and fled down the stairwell, her heart pounding. As she descended, she couldn't shake the image of Jeffrey's smile or the warmth in his eyes. Get it together, Maddy, she scolded herself. You're acting like a teenager — again.

Maddy reached her car and fumbled with her keys, still flustered from her encounter with Jeffrey. Just as she started the engine, her watch buzzed and emitted a chirping sound — another bird, this one digital and just as insistent.

She glanced at the screen: a notification reminding her that pilates would begin in seven minutes.

"I'm late," she muttered with a wry smile as she pulled out of the parallel parking space on the East Harlem street.

As she drove towards the studio, her thoughts drifted from Pilates, gray hair, a certain blue-eyed neighbor, and birdsongs to her irreverent need and loneliness.

I've got to renew my ADHD medication, was the thought just as her hazel eyes latched onto Jeffrey as he stepped into the crosswalk in front of her car.

Marcia saw him first, the girlfriend code called.

But, you knew him in another life, her ravenous heart responded.

© Scarlet Ibis James, 2024: All Rights Reserved.

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𝕀'𝕕 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕣 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕕 (𝕠𝕣 𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕕!) 𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪. 𝕃𝕖𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕒 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥! -- ડᥴꪖ𝕣ꪶꫀ𝕥 ⅈ᥇ⅈડ 𝕛ꪖꪑꫀડ